President Donald Trump suggested on Tuesday that he could invoke the Insurrection Act of 1807 and allow the U.S. military to be used for law enforcement purposes.

National Guard members and Marines, called to Los Angeles by President Trump to prevent violent protests, can otherwise only serve in support roles.

"If there's an insurrection, I would certainly invoke it. We will see," he said.

The last time the Insurrection Act of 1807 was invoked was in 1992, when President George H.W. Bush ordered the National Guard, at the request of the state, to head to Los Angeles in response to riots following the trial of four acquitted police officers involved in the Rodney King beating. By the time the National Guard arrived, the riots had mostly died down, according to the Brennan Center.

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